Simulation modelling : organisation, utilisation and risks of the manoeuvring area of IBA s.a.'s future manufacturing and logistics plant

Abstract

The building of a new manufacturing and logistical facility is always a source of challenge for a company. Every aspect of the project must be carefully addressed. This is the case of the company IBA, which will open a new plant to answer the growing trend of its main business line, the proton therapy. Therefore, a project team was build. An intern was also hired to support the project and to more specifically cover the future manoeuvring area. The importance of the manoeuvring area does not have to be underestimated. It is the entrance of the building and does not have to be a bottleneck. The aim of this project-dissertation is to assess the manoeuvring area and the potential risks (safety, efficiency, feasibility, fluidness) by first recommending an optimal organisation of the manoeuvring area (location of the docks, flows) and afterwards by quantitatively analysing the zone. A simulation of the manoeuvring area has been developed in the software Anylogic to undertake the analysis.

First of all, literature about simulation modelling is summarized in order to provide the reader with first knowledge of this powerful problem-solving. In addition, the methodology used to specifically implement the simulation in the software Anylogic is presented.

Afterwards, the final recommendation for an organisation of the zone is described. This organisation is the result of workshops supported by different versions of the simulation.

Then, the organisation chosen, the simulation model has been further developed in order to quantitatively assess the manoeuvring area according to different scenarios combining two factors, the volume and the number of workers. Different utilization rates and performances related to the queues were measured and analysed. It allowed identifying whether the docks or the number of workers can be characterized as a bottleneck.

Finally, recommendations to tackle the risks that might occur in the future are given. To conclude, the perspectives of the simulation tool on one hand for a manager and on the other hand for IBA’s future plant are broached.